“The decision (to revoke citizenship), they said, ‘is
intended to punish them for expressing peaceful dissent and thereby intimidate
others from exercising their right to freedom of expression.’”
The above quote is from Aljazeera in regard to a small country
in the Middle East. I read it this
morning as I was reflecting on the results of yesterday’s elections. As disappointing as the results are for
conservatives like me, I am reminded again of the honor it is to belong to a
free democratic country. We are free to
express our discontent, and it has been expressed widely this morning. We are free to vote in or out our
representatives if we don’t like how they govern. We are free to petition and protest without
fear of having our citizenship revoked.
Some believe that these rights are in danger as a result of a liberal
president and an agenda that tastes like socialism. We will find out in the next four years.
As citizens of the United States, we have the privilege,
honor, and obligation to participate in our government. We can run for government, like my friend
Paul Tittl (he won), in order to make a difference. We can speak up on issues
we believe are important. We can attempt
to persuade, through a civil discourse of ideas, others to our point of
view.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God we are to honor those in
authority, pray for our leaders, and give respect to those who govern over us (1 Pet. 2:13-14, 1 Tim.
2:1-2, Romans 13). Peter and Paul wrote
under one of the most corrupt, immoral, and violent governments in
history. Yet, unlike Paul and Peter we belong
to a participatory government and can work to change what we don’t like.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God the way in
which we approach civil discourse will be different than our opponents. Where we will show grace, they will show hate
(reading responses to Govern Huckabee’s blog I found it interesting that those
who disagreed with him were often angry and vile). Where we will offer truth, they will deny its
existence. Where we will offer
forgiveness, they will harbor resentment.
Where we will stand for righteousness, they will fight for personal
pleasure and sin.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God we are
participants with the Holy Spirit as a restraining factor in a nation who is
moving away from God. Listening to a
sermon by John MacArthur this morning, I am reminded again that God’s patience
with a sinning nation is limited, and He will give it over to its lusts until
their abandonment is complete.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God we have a
choice. We can do nothing and guarantee
that darkness will prevail, or we can pursue righteousness through the declaration
of the gospel until all who will believe become a part of God’s Kingdom. I’m just saying…
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